Casia's Cornerhttps://casscourtier.wordpress.com
Writing through life and living through my writing.Fri, 18 Aug 2017 04:37:25 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/https://secure.gravatar.com/blavatar/db617eaaeb6b03e479c906a92d154216?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.pngCasia's Cornerhttps://casscourtier.wordpress.com
Book #84: Reconstructed by Tasha Blackhttps://casscourtier.wordpress.com/2017/08/18/book-84-reconstructed-by-tasha-black/
https://casscourtier.wordpress.com/2017/08/18/book-84-reconstructed-by-tasha-black/#respondFri, 18 Aug 2017 04:05:12 +0000http://casscourtier.wordpress.com/?p=3014Continue reading Book #84: Reconstructed by Tasha Black]]>A New Series from the Author of CURSE OF THE ALPHA! Some heroes aren’t born…they’re built.

Westley Worthington has it all. Piles of money, good looks, a head for business, and a seemingly limitless supply of women who want to please him. And that’s just the way he likes it. Until a brush with death causes him to rethink his priorities, and consider someone besides himself for the first time in his privileged life.

Cordelia Cross has never had it easy. Her duty to her family has her working as an assistant to a man she hates just to pay her sister’s medical bills. When her arrogant boss alienates his last true friend, she finds herself promoted from schedule-managing coffee grabber, to the newest member of West’s inner circle.

Tempers, and passions, ignite as the two start spending time together, until a shocking accident puts their newfound attraction on ice. When West is faced with the toughest trial of his life, Cordelia helps him realize that he has all the tools he needs to be a force for justice.

Together, they must turn West into the hero no one ever thought he could be.

I was first introduced to Tasha Black with her Curse of the Alpha serial. Each episode was quick, crazy, and had a steamy scene (most of which I lowered the volume for fear someone would hear the book). I got Reconstructed for free through Amazon and wanted to see how a superhero fiction worked.

You see, I’m a bit of a Marvel fan. I love superheroes, not as much as a good number of fans, but I like the story dynamics of a good superhero story. I hadn’t even thought to read a superhero like book, but when I found this I said: Why not?

Reconstructed is a very quick read. A one day read. In fact, according to Audible, it was just under five hours. If you have five hours to spend, you have time to start and finish this book. The writing is simple and the story grabs you. I was rooting for West and Cord for their separate reasons. I was excited to see who the baddie in the current book was and Black introduced enough to whet your mouth for more.

There are steamy scenes of romance, but not to the point of the Curse of the Alpha serial. That one felt raunchy and a good romp of a read, this one was a fun read with a bit of dessert in the end. I will definitely be grabbing book 2 and book 3. I’m loving the superhero world Black has created.

]]>https://casscourtier.wordpress.com/2017/08/18/book-84-reconstructed-by-tasha-black/feed/0casscourtierBook #83: The Sacrifice of Sunshine Girl by Paige McKenziehttps://casscourtier.wordpress.com/2017/08/16/book-83-the-sacrifice-of-sunshine-girl-by-paige-mckenzie/
https://casscourtier.wordpress.com/2017/08/16/book-83-the-sacrifice-of-sunshine-girl-by-paige-mckenzie/#respondWed, 16 Aug 2017 04:41:12 +0000http://casscourtier.wordpress.com/?p=2991Continue reading Book #83: The Sacrifice of Sunshine Girl by Paige McKenzie]]>Sunshine Griffith can communicate with ghosts. Even more amazing—to herself; her boyfriend, Nolan; and her adoptive mom, Kat—she’s recently learned she’s a luiseach, one of an ancient race of creatures who have lived among humans for centuries, protecting them from dark spirits and helping them move on to the afterlife.

Having survived an abyss full of demons, Sunshine Griffith must figure out who—or what—has been organizing the forces of darkness against her. Do they want to destroy her and the rest of the endangered luiseach? Do they want to take over the world? Nolan has figured out that Sunshine’s death would trigger a calamitous event, so not only does she have to stay alive for herself, but for the fate of civilization. It’s not just the demons who want Sunshine dead, though. Her biological mother, Helena, is back. And what is Helena’s history with the mysterious man in black?

Fortunately for Sunshine, she has a lot of people (and ghosts) to help her stop the darkness: Nolan, her father and mentor Aidan, her mom Kat, Victoria, Lucio, Anna, and Ashley—whose handsome new crush, Sebastian, seems hauntingly familiar. But time may be running out as an unexpected event unleashes a fierce war between the luiseach and the demon army. In the midst of the fiery battle, Sunshine will learn a shocking truth about herself and what sort of sacrifice is required to save the world.

After I finished the first two books, I couldn’t just leave Sunshine girl where she was at. The second book ended with a cliffhanger that truly left me hanging. As soon as I saw this book, I snatched it with my Audible credit.

Honestly, I preferred the second one when it came to the dark stuff (the first was great too), but I do love all the information we get in this book. We learn more about Helen, Aidan, and the luiseach in general. We even meet more luiseach!

This book begins where book two had ended. Sunshine is still alive and helps her father fight the demons opened from book two. After that was done, there are some assassination attempts, a big baddie reveal, and a whole bunch of information.

I honestly didn’t see the twist coming when it did and I loved it. The final fight scene was interesting and a fitting end to everything that happened in the series. I’m not sure if there will be another book, but I wouldn’t mind reading another one if it does.

All in all, it was a fun and quick read that put me back into the world the Youtube show began. A great book for the younger side of teens, but still fun for an older person just wanting something to enjoy. You do need to read the first two before this one though, definitely not a standalone.

]]>https://casscourtier.wordpress.com/2017/08/16/book-83-the-sacrifice-of-sunshine-girl-by-paige-mckenzie/feed/0casscourtierBook #82: The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtuehttps://casscourtier.wordpress.com/2017/08/14/book-82-the-gentlemans-guide-to-vice-and-virtue/
https://casscourtier.wordpress.com/2017/08/14/book-82-the-gentlemans-guide-to-vice-and-virtue/#respondMon, 14 Aug 2017 04:48:58 +0000http://casscourtier.wordpress.com/?p=2987Continue reading Book #82: The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue]]>An unforgettable tale of two friends on their Grand Tour of 18th-century Europe who stumble upon a magical artifact that leads them from Paris to Venice in a dangerous manhunt, fighting pirates, highwaymen, and their feelings for each other along the way.

Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.

But as Monty embarks on his grand tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.

Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.

Witty, romantic, and intriguing at every turn, The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue is a sumptuous romp that explores the undeniably fine lines between friendship and love.

Talk about a whole lot of fun! The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue is the first book (for the month) in the book club I’m a part of, OCBC. I was excited to get this book. The moment I found out last month’s OwlCrate theme, I knew it had to be this book.

IF I wasn’t doing OwlCrate, I probably wouldn’t have picked up the book. The cover isn’t my thing. I’m not sure what would be the best cover, but cover wise, it didn’t say what this book screams. And this book screams.

It has been a long time since I got really excited about a book. This book excited me so much that I took pictures of the text and ended up sharing it. The dialogue between the three main characters is just amazing. Each moment, no matter how mundane, becomes a juicy tidbit about the character. These people were my people.

Monty is a beautiful creature. He sounds like a cavalier kind of person from the blurb and you would think that. However, there is a part of him that is so sad you just want to cuddles him. It’s the same for Percy and Felicity, even though we only see the inner workings of Monty.

Not to mention the trouble Monty gets them into time and time again. It is both hilarious and cringe worthy. The real cringe parts also tore at my heartstrings. Each of the trio are going through a type of prejudice. It is beautiful, heartfelt, and fun.

I truly had fun with this book. It did take a bit for me to sit and read, but once I got there, I didn’t want to stop. I finished a good halfway almost in one day. This is definitely a book I would recommend. In fact, I already have two friends getting ready to read my book.

]]>https://casscourtier.wordpress.com/2017/08/14/book-82-the-gentlemans-guide-to-vice-and-virtue/feed/0casscourtierBook #81: Forgotten Worlds by Lexi Ostrowhttps://casscourtier.wordpress.com/2017/08/11/book-81-forgotten-worlds-by-lexi-ostrow/
https://casscourtier.wordpress.com/2017/08/11/book-81-forgotten-worlds-by-lexi-ostrow/#respondFri, 11 Aug 2017 04:58:00 +0000http://casscourtier.wordpress.com/?p=2982Continue reading Book #81: Forgotten Worlds by Lexi Ostrow]]>Jeannette doesn’t want any part of her special Word Speaker gift. Her Guardian died, not from the war, but from something very human—cancer. Left with a young child and a heart broken beyond repair, Jeannette has no desire to ever draw another Guardian and turns her back on her gifts. On the war.Jameson, second to the Horseman of the Apocalypse known as Pestilence, isn’t new to the game. His brother launched them all into the truth when he became a Guardian. Jameson has secretly wished for a Word Speaker ever since. All he wants is to escape the fate written for him, and he envies the happiness all three of his brothers have found.On the run, not from evil but her own life, Jeannette forgets herself and begins to read. When Jameson appears before her, very real and very tempting, she’s thrown into a position she didn’t ever want to be in again. She can’t resist him, even though she wants nothing to do with his kind— Guardians. Jameson must convince Jeannette that they are meant to be, and not just because of the white-hot passion between them. If she can’t accept him, he faces a life left alone and no way to fight in a war that his family already has a stake in.

I received a copy of Forgotten Worlds from the author for an honest review. There was no compensation and everything that follows is my opinion.

Forgotten Worlds is probably my favorite in Ostrow’s Guardians series. In case you don’t know much about the series, her erotic romance series centers on a world war. In this war there are Word Speakers, people with the ability to bring to life a literary character who becomes their Guardian in this upcoming apocalyptic war.

Each of the books can be read as standalone, but to understand some of the minor characters, especially in this book, it is best to at least start with book 1. (By the way, it’s free on Amazon Kindle currently) Also, all of these books are erotic. So, please only 18 or mature readers. I don’t want to get in trouble recommending this to a person not ready for graphic sex scenes.

Anyways, this story is probably my favorite in the group as a whole. Jeannette is bitter and depressed after the death of her husband. She has a daughter that she tries to take care of, but the loss of a Guardian and husband can be too much for her. I love her because I understood where she stood when she argued with everyone. She wasn’t wrong in any of her arguments. Sure, she had a stubborn streak, but I would have been just like her if I was in her shoes.

What gets the story rolling is Jeannette leaving her daughter for a weekend trip. Sure, you could argue that a mother shouldn’t leave her kid for any reason, but I feel her leaving for a bit is fine. Even a happily married mom needs alone time sometimes.

Anyways, the romance between Jeannette and Jameson is definitely there. I actually loved the way these two interact more than Stryder and Ciara, Jameson’s brother and sister in law (also, the couple in book 1). Both Jeannette and Jameson are stubborn, but Jameson has a laid back quality that made his cockiness endearing.

I am starting to dislike trench coat brother (the good guy leader), but I feel his growing agitation is due to pent up frustration. I know there’s going to be a book with him in it and I am interested in what Ostrow has planned for him. And, can I just say that I keep thinking of Cas in Supernatural when trench coat comes up?

All in all, the book was good and the best in the series. I am excited for when Trench Coat gets his own book. It might make for a very interesting read.

]]>https://casscourtier.wordpress.com/2017/08/11/book-81-forgotten-worlds-by-lexi-ostrow/feed/0casscourtierBook #80: Savvy by Ingrid Lawhttps://casscourtier.wordpress.com/2017/08/09/book-80-savvy-by-ingrid-law/
https://casscourtier.wordpress.com/2017/08/09/book-80-savvy-by-ingrid-law/#respondWed, 09 Aug 2017 04:47:50 +0000http://casscourtier.wordpress.com/?p=2978Continue reading Book #80: Savvy by Ingrid Law]]>For generations, the Beaumont family has harbored a magical secret. They each possess a “savvy” -a special supernatural power that strikes when they turn thirteen. Grandpa Bomba moves mountains, her older brothers create hurricanes and spark electricity . . . and now it’s the eve of Mibs’s big day.

As if waiting weren’t hard enough, the family gets scary news two days before Mibs’s birthday: Poppa has been in a terrible accident. Mibs develops the singular mission to get to the hospital and prove that her new power can save her dad. So she sneaks onto a salesman’s bus . . . only to find the bus heading in the opposite direction. Suddenly Mibs finds herself on an unforgettable odyssey that will force her to make sense of growing up-and of other people, who might also have a few secrets hidden just beneath the skin.

I used to work at Borders. During the time that I did, Ingrid Law’s Savvy had just been published. From the beginning, I wanted to read the book. I did not buy it that day. Nor did I buy it a year from that day. In fact, it took about 7 years from Borders for me to finally get the book.

I bought it during a Goodreads Deal and nabbed the audio in the process. I’m glad I did.

Savvy is one of those coming of age books filled with magic. I loved the concept of a Savvy, a know-how that only the Beaumont family have (and their relatives). It is a magical gift brought to them on their thirteenth birthday. For example, one of Mibs’ brothers is able to start hurricanes. Another can bring forth lightning. Even her grandfather is able to make land where land wasn’t.

It is Mibs’ thirteenth birthday and her Savvy is about to happen. At first, you think her savvy is what she believes, but when it actually comes out, it is amazing. I loved her savvy and began to wonder what it would be like if I was in that world.

On top of Mibs trying to work out her own savvy, her brother Fish is also trying to work it out. The rest of the secondary characters even have their own problems they have to deal with. It is a hodge podge of faulty characters finding themselves and each other in a mistake road trip.

I really liked this book and I do plan on reading the other books in this series. Let’s just hope it doesn’t take another seven years before I crack open book two.

]]>https://casscourtier.wordpress.com/2017/08/09/book-80-savvy-by-ingrid-law/feed/0casscourtierBook #79: Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvaterhttps://casscourtier.wordpress.com/2017/08/07/book-79-dream-thieves-by-maggie-stiefvater/
https://casscourtier.wordpress.com/2017/08/07/book-79-dream-thieves-by-maggie-stiefvater/#respondMon, 07 Aug 2017 04:41:02 +0000http://casscourtier.wordpress.com/?p=2971Continue reading Book #79: Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater]]>The second installment in the all-new series from the masterful, #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater!

Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after…

I jumped into The Dream Thieves as soon as I finished The Raven Boys. I probably loved this book more than the first one and it’s all because of Ronan. At the end of the first book, Ronan revealed a big secret to the gang: how he found Chainsaw.

Ronan is my favorite character in this series and one of the focus characters in this book. He is angry, has a temper, and gets in trouble constantly. His anger is because of a bunch of things piled up. I would go into detail, but you learn more about him.

The second focus character is Adam. From the ending events of the first book, Adam has changed dramatically. He is off balance and very angry. Whereas he was endearing in the first book, I found him upsetting in this one. That isn’t to say he doesn’t change, he does, but it takes a while and he will never be what he was like in the first book.

In The Dream Thieves we learn more about the ley line, Cabeswater, and Ronan. We are also given a few new villains. Each one is important to the ley line and the possible discovery of Glendower.

Speaking of the sleeping king, the group is only barely one step ahead. Most of everything focused on Adam, Ronan, and the ley line. All of them are intertwined and it was great to see how they connected.

As the same as before, I bought the third book fairly early on. The downside is that it’s a paperback. I have the first two in audio and Audible doesn’t have the third book. That isn’t to say I wasn’t going to buy the hard copy of the book though. I was. I just wanted to continue the series in the same vein before jumping into a different medium.

Princess Oona Talomir enjoys the little things that come with her station: a handmaiden, her lavish bedchamber, and scores of fancy dresses―the duty to win a decades’ long war, not so much.

Oh, did I mention assassins?

Seers foretold the conflict would end by her hand. From the moment she drew her first breath, the neighboring kingdom has been trying to kill her so she could not grow powerful enough to destroy them. The king, fearing for his daughter’s life, has kept her confined to the castle grounds for most of her sixteen years. With the tide of war turning against them, the burden of her crown becomes too much to bear, yet one thing lifts her spirits amid the gloom.

Her servant girl, Kitlyn.

Alas, in a kingdom obsessed with the god of purity, she is terrified to confess her forbidden love. When her father makes a demand she cannot abide―marry a prince to forge a military alliance―Oona panics. He is handsome and honorable, but he’s not Kitlyn. Unable to admit why she cannot obey, Oona does the only thing she can think of, and runs away.

Alone and unprepared in the wilderness, she prays the gods will let Kitlyn find her—before the assassins do.

I received a copy of The Eldritch Heart from Xpresso Book Tours and the author for an honest review. There was no compensation given or received for the review.

I am a fan of Matthew S. Cox. I love how he writes his female leads and puts them in situations that seem so dangerous that they are fighting the impossible. What is even better is that these female leads use their wit, emotions, and personal strengths to fight past their conflicts. The female leads of The Eldritch Heart are no different.

Oona is a sweet and compassionate young woman who wants nothing but to be with the person she loves, Kitlyn. She fears what everyone seems to believe is going to happen, that she will destroy a whole nation to end a war. Sure, there are times that she may seem spoiled, but I found her to be endearing and good.

Kitlyn was my personal favorite of the two. She is passionate, quick witted, and has the same goodness that Oona has. Despite being looked down upon and treated poorly, Kit is able to see past the prejudices and assert herself when she can.

In case you haven’t noticed, this book is an LGBT book. This is probably why I instantly asked to be a part of the tour. Cox hasn’t written an LGBT book before, but he has written fantasy and does a great job with his female leads. Adding the relationship between Kit and Oona only strengthened this book. Their love was pure, real, and I didn’t feel like it was misplaced or put together to join in on a movement.

These two girls were meant to be together.

The story is quick to start and hard to put down read. I probably read for a few hours straight and there are no regrets. This is very close to my favorite Cox book so far. I would definitely recommend this and I encourage Cox to write another YA LGBT in the future. Dare I say it, I even would love to see these ladies kicking ass in a sequel (not sure what the story would be, but I like to think it).

Author Bio:

Born in a little town known as South Amboy NJ in 1973, Matthew has been creating science fiction and fantasy worlds for most of his reasoning life. Somewhere between fifteen to eighteen of them spent developing the world in which Division Zero, Virtual Immortality, and The Awakened Series take place. He has several other projects in the works as well as a collaborative science fiction endeavor with author Tony Healey.

Hobbies and Interests:

Matthew is an avid gamer, a recovered WoW addict, Gamemaster for two custom systems (Chronicles of Eldrinaath [Fantasy] and Divergent Fates [Sci Fi], and a fan of anime, British humour (<- deliberate), and intellectual science fiction that questions the nature of reality, life, and what happens after it.

]]>https://casscourtier.wordpress.com/2017/08/04/blog-tour-eldritch-heart-by-matthew-s-cox/feed/1casscourtierXBTBanner1Book #77: Sold for the Greek’s Heir by Lynne Grahamhttps://casscourtier.wordpress.com/2017/08/02/book-77-sold-for-the-greeks-heir-by-lynne-graham/
https://casscourtier.wordpress.com/2017/08/02/book-77-sold-for-the-greeks-heir-by-lynne-graham/#respondWed, 02 Aug 2017 04:34:15 +0000http://casscourtier.wordpress.com/?p=2929Continue reading Book #77: Sold for the Greek’s Heir by Lynne Graham]]>

With this ring…

After a whirlwind affair, Greek billionaire Jax Antonakos left Lucy Dixon heartbroken and—although he didn’t know it—pregnant! Now Lucy is determined to make a new life with her tiny daughter, yet when Jax sweeps back into her world, she cannot mask her instant response to his seductive charisma!

…I thee buy!

For Jax, a ready-made heir is well worth bidding for—especially when it guarantees making Lucy’s luscious curves his. He’s determined to stake his claim on her body—and their baby—by reminding her of their insatiable chemistry in the wedding bed!

Sometimes I am in need of a quick read. Even though I wouldn’t say romance is my favorite read, I don’t shy away from it most times. Harlequins are one of those guilty pleasure reads for me. Whenever I find myself recovering from a book hangover or trying to beef up my reading quota, a Harlequin isn’t far from my hands.

This specific book is the sequel to a Harlequin I finished earlier this year. I liked the previous book, the second in a trilogy, and I wanted to see how the last book fared in comparison. Now, I didn’t care for the way the male lead treated the female lead in the previous book. And, unfortunately, Jax seems to have the same caveman feel to him.

However, I found Lucy to be a stronger female lead than her older sisters. She needed to be. She is a mother of a toddler and she needed to protect herself, her daughter, and it shows in her characterization. I loved that about Lucy. She let herself be manhandled, but shortly after that, she told Jax how it was going to be. Kudos to her. After that, Jax did show some change. He was actually a sympathetic character.

In all, the book was very similar to the previous one in plot twists. I wasn’t too surprised with what happened and how it happened. I would have liked a different scenario between the two, but it wasn’t so bad that I disliked the book itself. For now, though, I’m going to hold back on the romance reads.

Tanya is a hardworking college student but her whole world is turned upside down when she meets a mysterious man on Halloween. All that she thought was fiction is now her reality. A night life filled with fangs and blood—and an evil vampire that wants her dead.

She and her friends are the chosen ones, destined long ago, to save this world from destruction. That’s not easy when your enemy is your sire’s son.

Tich:
Tich is an Oklahoma resident and the mother of five. Her passion for reading started at an early age when her Aunt Vicky gave her the novel Heidi for Christmas. She didn’t start writing until middle school, after being inspired by her best friend’s short stories. “Genny’s stories weren’t just great but they inspired me to put my pen and paper to good use.”

After being disowned and labelled human because she can’t shift, Betty Newman rescues unwanted dogs to fulfill her need for pack. Being rejected by her birth pack was enough pain for a lifetime and she’ll do anything to avoid subjecting herself to their prejudices.

Things change when Ken Birch wakes in her kennel still in wolf form and declares she’s his soul mate. His presence wakes her feral heart and makes her long for a life she can’t have. Old wounds are opened and she refuses to listen to instinct.

But only a shifter can be a soul mate and now her life is in danger by New Port’s pack. Either Betty learns to shift or she dies. Problem is the only one willing to help is Ken, the last person she wants.

Annie Nicholas writes paranormal romance with a twist. She has courted vampires, hunted with shifters, and slain a dragon’s ego all with the might of her pen. Riding the wind of her imagination, she travels beyond the restraints of reality and shares them with anyone wanting to read her stories. Mother, daughter, and wife are some of the other hats she wears while hiking through the hills and dales of her adopted state of Vermont.